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From our fabulous News Hawks!

Have you seen a TG-related news story online or in your local paper? Send it in to TGF and become a News Hawk! Don't assume we know everything that's out there, because you are our eyes and ears. To file a story, send it in to Cindy.

Greek Groom
Caught In Gown

Contributed by Rachelle Austin and Elizabeth Parker
via Australian Associated Press
August 12, 1998

A bride-to-be suffered a nervous breakdown the night before her wedding on the Greek island of Crete when she discovered the groom, dressed in her wedding gown, in the arms of his best man. The future husband and wife were celebrating at separate parties when the bride's friends asked to go to the couple's new home to take a peek at the wedding dress, the semi-official Athens news agency reported. When they arrived, they found the gown-clad groom locked in a passionate embrace with the best man. The young woman has been treated at a clinic in Iraklion since the incident. The wedding did not take place.

Drag Doesn't Help Robber

Contributed by Rachelle Austin
via Reuters
August 12, 1998

MAITLAND, Fla. - A Florida businessman was under arrest Wednesday for allegedly robbing a bank after tellers saw through his disguise of a woman's wig, red lipstick and pale foundation make-up, police said.

Douglas John Patak was arrested at his home in Maitland, in central Florida, Monday and charged with the armed robbery of the First Federal Savings Bank of Live Oak in Live Oak, Florida, earlier that day.

Though he disguised himself with a black wig and make-up, bank tellers told police they recognized Patak as one of their customers before he left the bank in his red Mercedes car. Patak had moved to Maitland from Live Oak two weeks before the robbery.

Sgt. Ron Colvin of the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office told the Orlando Sentinel he had met Patak last week when he called police about money reported missing from his family's business.

After Patak was implicated in the bank robbery, Colvin phoned him, and Patak called back, thinking he wanted to talk about the money. The Sheriff's Office took Patak's telephone number off a caller-ID device and used it to get his address.

Trans Protests
At Gay Games Opening

Contributed by GAIN News Remailer
via GAIN News
August 14, 1998

AMSTERDAM-- The Gay Games have drawn 14,000 participants and 200,000 visitors to the Dutch capital, but the festival is already running into some problems. Local organizers in the Netherlands have banned mixed-sex couples from competing in the ballroom dance competition. The goal, they say, is toopresent the event as a kind of intrnational showcase for gay athletes, men dancing with men, women with women. That lmeans a lesbian schoolteacher from Brooklyn and her gay male dance partner will not be allowed onto the floor.

Another drawing even more fire is a requirement that athletes who have changed their sex provide proof of what the rules call "completed gender transition." Organizers say that concerns over fairness and legal liability have made it imperative that transgender athletes be put into the proper category, especially so that men, with their greater body strength, whether born or created, do not compete unfairly or perhaps even dangerously against women. "The Gay Games were formed because gay athletes could not compete openly; how ironic that they are now forcing another group of athletes to go back into the closet or face a barrage of stigmatizing obstacles," said Riki Anne Wilchins, the executive director of GenderPAC, a public advocacy coalition for the transgender community.

Ice-skaters in the Gay Games are saying they will wear masks when they compete in same-sex partnerships after being threatened with expulsion from their ruling body, the International Skating Union, for taking part. The International Skating Union has refused to recognize the gathering as an official event, so skaters, referees, and officials who take part in the figure-skating contest will be expelled from future competition. The European Gay and Lesbian Sporting Federation has called on the participants to skate wearing face masks in protest.

W.Hollywood Passes
TG Ordinance

Contributed by GAIN News Remailer
via GAIN News
July 20, 1998

The ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of Gender Identity passed unanimously July 20, 1998. Mayor Martin's recommendation of sensitivity training is being provided by the Center for Gender Sanity. The sensitivity training is for the employees of West Hollywood and does not include police and fire because they are contracted out. The Center for Gender Sanity consults with employers who have transgender workers and provides transgender sensitivity and diversity training in the work place. Michele Kammerer and Janis Walworth are partners in this business and partners in life. Michele transitioned in 1991 in the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Janis has worked with the Transgendered community for several years as an activist, advocate, counselor, and writer. Janis has written the book "Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide."

For further information, please contact: Transgender Menace Southern California:

Shirley Bushnell (323) 962-9162 shirley@earthlink.net

Jacob Hale (323) 665-1130 ZeroboyJH@aol.com

Center for Gender Sanity

Janis Walworth merkins@cris.com

Michele Kammerer Firewomon@aol.com

The Ordinance added gender identity as a protected category for provisions prohibiting discrimination. Gender Identity is defined as: "Gender Identity refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and includes a person's identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from the traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth."

The City of West Hollywood recognizes that the practice of discrimination against persons on account of sexual orientation and/or gender identity deprives the City of the full utilization of its capacity for development and advancement, and substantially and adversely affects the interest of the City and the public in general.

It is now unlawful for any person to discriminate against a person on the account of a person's gender identity in housing, public accommodations, use of city services and facilities, and in contracting or subcontracting with the City.

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